The government is constructing 327 new classrooms in Kericho County to support the smooth transition of learners to Senior Schools under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
The project is being implemented in phases across all six sub-counties and forms part of a broader national initiative to enhance infrastructure in senior schools and accommodate the growing student population.
Speaking to KNA, the Kericho County Director of Education, Mr. Julius Ngoneshi, pointed out that a total of 215 classrooms have already been completed under Phases One and Two and are now in use, saying the completed classrooms have eased congestion in schools and created a more conducive environment for learners moving into Senior School.
In Phase One, Ngoneshi said 45 classrooms were completed, including 7 in Soin/Sigowet, 9 in Belgut, 6 in Kipkelion, 14 in Bureti, and 9 in Londiani, noting that Phase Two added 170 more classrooms, with Bureti leading at 42, followed by Belgut with 25, Soin/Sigowet with 20, and Kipkelion and Londiani jointly completing 21.
He emphasised that Phase Three is currently underway, with 25 classrooms already allocated for construction, including five classrooms each in Bureti and Belgut, one in Soin/Sigowet, and several others spread across 25 schools in Kipkelion and Londiani sub-counties. Budgeting for the project is ongoing.
Under Phase Four, construction progress varies by sub-county. Ngoneshi said Soin/Sigowet was allocated 28 classrooms, with 25 already under construction, two at 50 per cent completion, and one at 75 per cent.
He added that in Belgut, five classrooms have been completed; Kipkelion has nine, Bureti three, and Londiani 23, with one more nearing 75 per cent completion.
“These numbers show how seriously we and our partners are working to give every child in Kericho County a good place to learn. We are confident that the new facilities will support the CBC rollout and help shape a better future for our learners,” he said.
The education system in Kenya has undergone a strategic shift from the Competency‑Based Curriculum (CBC) to the broader Competency‑Based Education (CBE) model, where learners progress based on mastery of clearly defined competencies, with emphasis on deep learning and real‑world skills like critical thinking, digital literacy, communication, and creativity.
Mathematics, once optional under CBC, has now been reinstated as a compulsory subject in senior school, with pure mathematics reserved for STEM students and a simplified variant for Arts, Sports, or Social Sciences pathways.
The Ministry of Education has ramped up investments in classroom construction, particularly for Junior (Grades 7–9) and Senior School (Grades 10–12), aiming to equip schools to function as triple‑ or double‑pathway institutions offering STEM, Social Sciences, and Arts & Sports Science tracks.
By Dominic Cheres and Mercy Mwende
